Tag: Wilwrite26_Sunday

  • 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont B: First Impressions

    Want to make readers eager to turn the page? Join literary agent T.S. Ferguson as he explores what makes a compelling first sentence, first paragraph, and first page. You will learn what captures an agent’s attention, what elements belong in a strong opening, and how to create a memorable first impression that keeps readers, agents, and editors reading.

    Faculty

    • T.S. Ferguson
      Before joining Azantian Literary Agency, T.S. Ferguson worked for 16 years as an editor for some of the top children’s and teen book publishers in the business, including Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Harlequin Teen/Inkyard Press, and JIMMY Patterson Books. He has worked with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors such as Sherman… Read more: T.S. Ferguson

  • 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont A: Ask the Experts

    Neuroscience? Law? AI? Bring your questions and the experts will share their knowledge, expertise, and skills with you. Remember, this is a chance to learn from the experts — save your healthy debate for after the panel!

    Faculty

    • Brian U. Garrison
      Brian U. Garrison, he/him, is President of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA). Check out his Etsy shop to see wall art that combines his words with visuals from collaborators. His chapbook Micropoetry for Microplanets (Space Cowboy Books) earned 3rd Place in the 2025 Elgin Awards. He lives under a tall, leafy tree… Read more: Brian U. Garrison
    • Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
      Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito is the founder of Demagogue Press. When she’s not rolling a d20 and playing with meeples, she’s reading or writing SF/F/H/genre-busting stories. Her writing has appeared in several venues including Nightmare Magazine, Flame Tree Press’s Asian Ghost Stories and Immigrant Sci-fi Stories, Mother:Tales of Love and Terror, Death’s Garden Revisited, and Unquiet… Read more: Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
    • Kagan Tumer
      Kagan Tumer is a science fiction author and professor of Robotics and AI. He attended seven schools in five cities in four countries, all before reaching high school, and is steadily moving west, from Virginia to Texas to California to Oregon. Along the way, Kagan worked as a food server, registrar’s office clerk, print shop… Read more: Kagan Tumer

  • 9:30 – 10AM Sunday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break

    Coffee break! Fill up your cup and make plans fo that final session!

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 1: Quiet Writing

    We’re quietly writing on Zoom this morning. Come join us to get your words on the page.

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 2: Voice, Wonder, and Whimsy: The Craft of KIDLIT

    Join published authors and industry professionals as they discuss how to craft engaging stories that spark imagination and delight young readers. Gain insights into creative techniques that you can use to make your kidlit more memorable and enchanting.

    Faculty

    • Sonja Thomas
      Sonja Thomas writes stories for kids of all ages. Her debut novel, Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence, is an Oregon Book Award finalist, an Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor recipient, and a Washington State Book Award finalist. She’s also a contributing author for Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales… Read more: Sonja Thomas

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Windsor C: Parent Social

    Writing with kids is hard! Join us for an informal discussion where you can compare notes and strategies with other parents.

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Windsor B: You’re here! Volunteer!

    Want to get involved with Willamette Writers? Join the conversation to learn how volunteers help shape programs, support events, and make our literary community thrive.

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Windsor A: Quiet Writing

    Ease into your Sunday morning with some quiet writing. This is a drop-in space for you to create and plan.

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont C: From Journalism to Novels: Perfecting your Writing Practice

    Join author Dana Haynes for a workshop on how journalism techniques like interviewing, and observation can strengthen your fiction and long-form writing. You will learn to create stronger scenes, sharpen dialogue, and ground your work in specific detail. By the end, you will have tools to bring more clarity and authenticity to your writing.

    Faculty

    • Dana Haynes
      Dana Haynes is the author of 14 mystery and thriller novels from such publishers as Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Publishing, Blackstone Publishing and Bantam Publishing. Under the pen name James Byrne, he has written four thrillers featuring Dez Limerick for Minotaur Books, including 2026’s STORM WARNING and CHAIN REACTION, nominated for best series… Read more: Dana Haynes

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont B: Beyond the Book: Marketing that Moves Copies

    What does it really take to sell a book? Listen in as published authors and marketing pros share their firsthand experiences, revealing the strategies that actually got their work noticed. Bring your questions! You’ll hear real-world stories, lessons learned, and creative approaches you can adapt to help your own book find its audience.

    Faculty

    • Brian W. Parker
      Brian grew up in Alaska, then Mississippi, and has always been in love with storytelling in every medium. He earned a BFA in graphic design & illustration and an MA in writing & publishing. He’s an adjunct professor of children’s publishing at Portland State University. He is the co-owner and creative director of Believe In… Read more: Brian W. Parker
    • Fitz Cyr
      Fitz Cyr is a queer romantasy author putting fictional darlings in occasionally funny, always heartfelt, and intermittently perilous situations for your enjoyment. They tell stories of adventure, hope, and the kind of love that makes you want to throw yourself into the sun for a cooldown. With over a decade of marketing experience, Fitz has… Read more: Fitz Cyr